05/06/2025
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Welcome baby Clementine, born safely at home with a licensed midwife, just shy of 12lbs! Thank you, Kadin & Paige, for being willing to have your story shared.
This was their 3rd baby with me, the others coming before 40 wks. While still within normal range, it was a surprise to everyone when Paige approached 42 wks. Kadin and Paige were great about taking precautions to check in on baby with kick-counts, frequent midwife appointments and a bio-physical profile ultrasound. Paige passed 5 days worth of gestational diabetes testing at 30 wks. After weighing the risks and benefits, and considering the suspected size of the baby, they decided to follow a natural induction protocol at home at 42 +1 weeks. Their midwife was fortunate to have excellent consulting hospital based providers with a plan B option available if labor didnāt progress perfectly. (If you are an OB or CNM reading this, please know how crucial your willingness to have this relationship with CPMās is in keeping normal birth safe and I thank you from the bottom of my heart!).
Kadin and Paige are such a sweet couple who giggle and snuggle their way through life together. They are a joy to be around. Labor was no different. Paige had been having a lot of prodromal labor contractions and the babies head felt to be off centered towards her hip. As contractions intensified, but coming very irregularly, Paige was instinctual with her body movements; standing, swaying her hips and arching her back, as well as making frequent visits to the toilet. She appeared completely calm, breathing deeply. She reported feeling the babies head shift to a more central position and at this point, contractions intensified. It was so beautiful to watch how her freedom of movement and being completely undisturbed allowed her to let her body guide her into what it needed to do to safely deliver this baby! Midwives know that arching the back (if it feels instinctual) keeps the shoulder from getting lodged on the p***c bone causing a potential shoulder dystocia and being in an upright position opens the pelvis 30-40% more. Paige delivered Clementine standing, with her back arched and her foot up on a stool, in 2 pushes, after 1 hr of active labor. She had no tearing.
I am completely in awe of this womanās strength, innate wisdom and trust in her body, and it was an honor to serve her family.
Edit: I tend to be more private about spirituality lately, but Kadin and I had a discussion and decided this story isnāt complete without sharing just how much we all felt the Lordās hand on this birth. My prayer in the week leading up to it was specifically for wisdom, not unnecessary fear. I was actually on my way to their house, not knowing it was real labor yet, and preparing to discuss hospital transfer with them. God had other plans. I immediately felt completely at peace walking in the door. I wouldnāt have made it if I waited for active labor. We all agreed every step that day was orchestrated by God. Birth is His perfect design.
Proverbs 16:9 āA manās heart plans his way, but the Lord directs his stepsā
